Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to the Answer of 12 January 2015 to Question 219981, what arrangements were put in place to inform qualifying servicemen and women of their eligibility to receive the UN Special Service medal for the Sarajevo Airlift; whether they are allowed to wear that medal; and if he will make a statement.

The information was originally promulgated to Armed Forces personnel and Ministry of Defence staff through Defence Council Instructions (DCIs). This was the usual method of issuing instructions and guidance pertaining to medals at that time.

Her Majesty authorised the acceptance and wear of categories 2 and 3 of the UN Special Service Medal for the Sarajevo Airlift. Category 2 medals were awarded to personnel who served on the ground for 90 days or more with United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) detachments at Ancona, Split and Zagreb. Category 3 medals were awarded to aircrew that completed 100 landings at Sarajevo.

Detailed information on the rules governing the wearing of medals can be found in Joint Service Publication (JSP) 761 - Honours and Awards in the Armed Forces, which is available on-line at the following link: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/honours-and-awards-in-the-armed-forces-jsp-761